TRAINEE doctors in South Korea began submitting their resignations en masse yesterday in protest against government medical policies, causing reported delays in surgeries and other treatments at hospitals.

The trainee doctors at the country’s five major hospitals began submitting letters of resignation ahead of a formal walkout on Tuesday. 

The Korea Intern Resident Association decided on the action during an emergency meeting last week.

Doctors’ groups have been in dispute with the government over its plan to increase the number of medical school admissions by 2,000, starting from next year.

Health authorities say there is an urgent need for more doctors to treat a fast-ageing population, with South Korea also having among the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the developed world.

But doctors’ groups say the government must use available resources to raise medical fees and resolve other problems first. 

Some doctors say raising admissions could result in unnecessary medical treatments because of competition among doctors.

The Korea Medical Association, which represents doctors, said it plans to hold rallies in support of the trainees but hasn’t decided whether to join their walkouts.

Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo expressed “deep worries and regrets” over the action. Citing a medical law, he said the government ordered the trainees to continue working.